Prayers of Adoration and ThanksgivingFather,In you is my birth,In you is the earth,In you is eternal worthI bow before you

Jesus,In you is love so dear,In you salvation near,In you I lose my fearI bow before you

Spirit,In you is all strong powe,In you is every hour,In you my life will flowerI bow before youDavid Adam (1936-2020)

Amazing God – three persons, and yet one. We come before you in worship, finding it hard to grasp and yet knowing in our hearts that this is the mystery and marvel of you. We pause in awe and wonder.

Amazing Father God we thank you for all the wonders of your creation – beauty that astounds us and fills us with awe. We pause to consider the beauty and intricacy of a flower.

Amazing Son of God we thank you for your constant and unchanging love, demonstrated in your birth at Bethlehem and your death on a cross. We pause to offer our sadness and grief at the ways in which we have let you down during this past week … and we ask for your forgiveness.

Amazing Spirit God we thank you for your ongoing, ceaseless presence with us, drawing us closer to you and filling us with your grace and power. We pause to receive you into our lives afresh … refilling us with your love and power.

Amazing God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Help us to stay close to you, to live in your power not our own, and to share your amazing love with all those we meet.Amen.

Hymn: StF 8 – God with us: Creator, Father (Tune: Ode to Joy)

Prayers of intercession

Into the presence of our God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – we bring people and situations in need of our prayers.

firemen, fishermen, farmers

plumbers, prophets, priests

street cleaners, home cleaners, hospital cleaners

the people of Burkina Faso, Brazil, Bangladesh

rubbish collectors, refugees, refuges

night workers, night owls, nightwear manufacturers

people affected by cyclones, storms and civil unrest

Amazing God, bring your love into the hearts and homes of those for whom we pray, that they may be comforted and sustained, and find themselves able and ready to face another day. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer:Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Reading: Matthew 28.16-20Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’

SERMONThis is not going to be another boring sermon about how the Trinity is like a triangle or a shamrock or suchlike. There will be no long theological words. Promise.

Let’s begin with Jesus’ last words to his friends as recorded by Matthew; ‘the Great Commission’ which sets out what Jesus expected his disciples to do after he had returned to God – ‘go – make disciples – baptise and teach’.‘Making disciples’ is the central task for the church and for all individual Christians – to bring people who do not yet know Jesus into a personal experience of God’s love for them. But you can’t bring anyone anywhere until you have been alongside them for long enough to gain their confidence and respect – to let them realise that you care for them as individuals, and don’t simply see them as ‘pew-fodder’. So ‘baptising and teaching’ is definitely a second stage, since (as we all know) commitment may take time. It is certainly what God wants, so that his family may increase and whatesus taught may be passed on to another generation; but, as John Wesley himself discovered so dramatically, only the Holy Spirit can touch someone so that they can say for themself ‘Jesus Christ is my Lord’.However, unless we ‘go’ – actually get up out of our comfort zones – none of this will happen. We can’t make disciples by standing on the church doorstep and waving to the world any more than we can run a marathon without leaving our armchair. We must be out in our community, being Christ’s body by what we do and say; we must join in with the life of the world, listen to the hopes and concerns of other people and earn their trust through our loving acceptance of them before ever we think of talking about God. And when we stop to think about this, perhaps we can see the Trinity in action – for what God calls us to do is to be like the Spirit, in the world to change it; to be like Jesus, offering God’s love by embodying it; to be like the Father, taking the initiative to love the world. And as we actually embark on this risky activity, we realise that we are being drawn into the dynamic life of the Trinity itself – that we are at one with God, just as Jesus promised (John 14.23). We become part of what theologians call ‘perichoresis’…… hang, on I said ‘no theological words’: we’ll keep that for another time.At this point you will say, ‘This is difficult enough in normal times – how about now, in lock-down?’ In John 14.12 we read that Jesus told his disciples that anyone who believes in him will be able to do even greater things than he himself. He meant that twelve disciples could go in twelve directions, which he as a man could not. Just think how many people we are able to be in contact with through modern technology. Just think how much time we have been given to do that because of everything being shut down. Just think how many people who may never cross the threshold of a ‘real’ church have invited God into their own living-rooms though streamed services. Just think what the simplest acts of neighbourliness – like a telephone call to ask how someone is coping, or a conversation over the garden fence – mean in terms of demonstrating the love of God. We can show the world that the church is still open for business by what we are doing, one by one, for people one by one; we can show that the church is capable of adapting and evolving to meet new situations so that we never stop carrying out that Great Commission to the best of our ability and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hymn: StF 11 – Holy, holy, holy

Blessing based on STF 472May the Sending One sing in you,may the Seeking One walk with you,may the Greeting One stand by you,in your gladness and in your grieving.

May the Gifted One relieve you,may the Given One retrieve you,may the Giving One receive you,in your falling and in your restoring.

May the Binding One untie you,may the One Beloved invite you,may the Loving One delight you,Three-in One, joy in life unending.

Prayer: O God, our creator and source of our lives, we love and worship you for your power, protection and life…We praise you for your perfection and purity…We bow down, astounded by your generous love… We thank you for Jesus and his life on earth, his challenging teaching, his strong and upright example…Forgive us when we have failed to live up to his example…Thank you that after his death, resurrection and ascension, you poured out your Holy Spirit on his followers – and ever since, to all who believe. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer

invite you to spend some time bringing to mind those for whom you are concerned – your family and friends; the unknown thousands across the world affected by Coronavirus; the leaders of the world in their management of the current crisis; those whose suffering pre-dates the virus and is caused by injustice and greed; your own needs and fears.SilenceO God, you know every issue and concern, you experience every pain and match every tear that falls, we lift to you those we love and those who need your love, your strength and your healing today. We ask you to meet their needs and ours in ways we cannot even imagine. We pray in faith and in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer.

Hymn: Father of everlasting grace

Blessing:Unseen wind of creative love, unseen breath of resurrection life, unseen streams of living water – God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with us now and each moment of each day. Amen.

Reading: Acts 1:4-8 and 2:1-4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at thistime going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Reading: John 7:37-39On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.Message:Streams of living water will flow from within those who believe.Have you ever been to Niagara Falls? It is a truly magnificent sight. But as you get closer (and I was amazed at how close you can get) the sheer power and deafening roar become an experience that you are unlikely to forget. I remember tears streaming down my face in response to emotion I couldn’t name –it was just incredibly moving. The power and speed of the water take your breath away.But I’m aware that the hydro-electric power station just before the falls takes energy and force from the water and it would be faster and stronger without it.‘Streams of living water’ certainly describe Niagara.The water pours through the power station creating electricity which is then distributed to homes and industry.Jesus says that Living Water will flow from within us. It streams to us from the Father and into us, working within us and flowing on in action that touches the world.We as Christians, are like the power station in the Niagara river, we need the flow of the Holy Spirit in order to fulfil the potential we have to work for God.Let’s change the illustration to that of a canal lock. When the gates are closed, the water is held back creating an empty chamber and bringing the flow of the water to a full stop.We can close our spiritual lock gates and effectively diminish the flow of the Holy Spirit to the point of bringing God’s work in and through us to a virtual stand-still. Or, we can open the gate to the fullest and let the living water flow through and fulfil our God-given purposes. We always have the choice.If someone stands above us with a bucket of water, we can choose tostand still and get a good soaking or chose to move away and keep dry!If it’s a hot day, we might delight in a soaking – but it will take our breath away and feel like a bit of a shock – even if it’s a refreshing one.The disciples on the day of Pentecost had a shocking experience, but they were open to. And they saw God at work in and through them.Personally, on a hot day, rather than the bucket approach, I prefer a tepid shower – a nice fine spray that is not ice cold but is predictable and that I’m able to control. But if God chooses to soak us in the Holy Spirit, it’s for a reason.And so, what will we choose? Are we willing to allow God to soak us? Or do we feel God at work and run the other way?We can be open to the exciting things God has in store for us, and others through us. We can ask God to pour out his Spirit on us and embrace whatever comes.In 1988, at a Christian conference event, I listened to a sermon in which the preacher, with reference to the Holy Spirit, repeatedly used a phrase I’d not been conscious of hearing before. He said: ‘You shall receive power’ and I now know that he was quoting from the passage from Acts that we read earlier.I knew I wanted and needed that Godly power – and I was open to a good bucket-soaking. What I got when I sought out someone to pray for me to receive the Holy Spirit was more akin to a gentle trickle – one that gradually increased in the next few years – and one I need and I’ve learned to expect over and over. It’s not something to be afraid of, and if we are going to be the church God wants us to be, there is no other way.The disciples, amongst many other things, received the gift of speaking in other languages, or ‘tongues’. This particular Spiritual Gift has often courted controversy from people denying that it’s real to people aggressively proclaiming that all Christians must have it. For the disciples, it was a necessary gift in order to share their message with many people in a short space of time.But it is real and one of many amazing gifts that God the Holy Spirit gives as s/he decides. It enables Christians to pray in a way that they may not understand. It’s a quiet and un-flamboyant experience whilst at the same time a deep and profound one.Like all the gifts given by the Holy Spirit, it is intended to benefit the church and God’s mission, first and foremost. The Spirit does not take over a person like a puppet master, making them do things they do not choose to. The gifts bring assistance and aid, not extrovert shows to impress.In Romans 12, Paul lists ‘serving’ and ‘encouragement’ as Spiritual gifts, for example. Gifts like these are humble and understated – but as necessary as the more dramatic sounding gifts.If you want to know more about the Gifts of the Spirit, I suggest reading Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4.It is power to continue with God’s work after Jesus’ ascension that is the focus of the Pentecost narrative. It’s what Jesus promised. It’s what the disciples lacked until that moment. And it’s what his followers to need as much today as 2,000 years ago.And so, I invite you as you read or sing the following song, to offer yourself again to God – to be cleansed, refreshed and re-powered. I invite you to ask God for his Holy Spirit to flow into you, fill you, work in you, and flow out of you in witness, supernatural love and humble service.Amen.

Prayer

invite you to spend some time bringing to mind those for whom you are concerned – your family and friends; the unknown thousands across the world affected by Coronavirus; the leaders of the world in their management of the current crisis; those whose suffering pre-dates the virus and is caused by injustice and greed; your own needs and fears.SilenceO God, you know every issue and concern, you experience every pain and match every tear that falls, we lift to you those we love and those who need your love, your strength and your healing today. We ask you to meet their needs and ours in ways we cannot even imagine. We pray in faith and in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer.

Hymn: Father of everlasting grace

Blessing:Unseen wind of creative love, unseen breath of resurrection life, unseen streams of living water – God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with us now and each moment of each day. Amen.

While we are unable to use the church building to meet together it has been great to see the resourcefulness of various people. We have had Prayer meetings on Zoom, including the ongoing “Thy Kingdom come” initiative. For more details of “Thy Kingdom come please see

It is believed that there are now plans to start a housegroup on Zoom, and a Zoom “pop in cafe”. We have also been able to enjoy a video version of Jammy Church which is still available on the Jammy Church facebook page.

Since the 5th of April our friends at St James Road Methodist Church in Shirley have been providing Sunday worship broadcast from various different peoples residences. This is broadcast live at 10 a.m. on you tube and is also available to watch afterwards. They have recently had over 600 views a week, which is more than the capacity of there building.

This service for at home has been prepared for us by Rev Arthur Cowburn

Holy Spirit of God, We watch for you, we wait for you, we look for you, we long for you.
come Holy Spirit, renew us, refresh us, restore us and inspire us, that we may live and work to your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you, oh spirit, are with the father, one God forever. Amen (from David Adam: Radiance of His Glory)

StF 94 To God be the glory

Let us pray
Loving God, we seek to glorify your name. We recognise the wonder of your works in creation, we feel the presence of your spirit in our lives, we see the example you have set before us In Jesus, and we marvel at your love. Help us to be open to see your love in the world around us, in each other, and in you.We are sorry that we often seek glory and failed to give you the glory which is yours by right. We are sorry that we fail to love others as we live ourselves. We are sorry that we allow ourselves to become complacent and failed to seek new ways of worshipping and serving you.Heal and forgive us we pray. Help us to hear the voice of Jesus saying, “go in peace, your sins are forgiven.”As we receive your love, help us to praise your name now and always. Amen

John 17: 1-11
After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
“I have revealed you[ to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.

StF 6 Father we love you

Sermon
The heading for the above reading in the Bible which I regularly use is “Jesus prays to be glorified.” If we hear of people in modern day lives seeking glory, we see that as an undesirable thing, as somebody perhaps seeking to be thought of as better than other people. With Jesus it’s different!
It’s different because of who he is. He is God in human form living out a human life here on earth. A few people have seen glimpses of God’s glory around him at his baptism and in the events on top of a mountain when Moses and Elijah appear alongside him. People have recognised him as a great teacher and healer and there have been questions as to whether he really is the one that the Jewish nation have been waiting for. Peter has recognised him as such, perhaps echoing the thoughts of the other disciples, although completely failing to see the true nature of what Jesus’s Messiahship is about. He hasattracted fame because of what he has done but, apart from that he’s an ordinary person in the street.
When I was a teenager, I took part in a youth service that was attended by Martin Dobson, the Burnley, Everton, and England footballer. At the end of the service we crowded round him in awe when a man tapped him on the shoulder and said, “Excuse me, are you Mr.?” I can’t remember the surname he used but it certainly wasn’t Dobson. We were horrified that somebody had failed to recognise him. I suspect many people were like that with Jesus. They saw bits, but not who he really was. He prays that he might be glorified, that people might fully recognise him.
It’s different because of when it happens. At the wedding at Cana in Chapter 2 of St. John’s Gospel Jesus says, “My hour has not yet come,” and this theme is repeated throughout the Gospel until in Chapter 16 he says “A time is coming and in fact has come.” He is referring in this to the disciples being scattered and leaving him alone, but the implication is that this is the moment. It can’t be put off any longer. Anything which previously might have given him glory is nothing compared with what’s to come.
It’s different because of how it’s going to happen. For John, the crucifixion is not a piteous ending but rather a moment of triumph as Jesus cries from the cross, “It is finished!” It’s a cry of we’ve accomplished what I came for, we’ve done it! To the world the cross is an object to be feared, an object of torture, a place where criminals go to die but for Jesus and subsequently for Christians it’s a place where he is glorified and from which we are able to receive his glory.

So, God turns the world upside down in a way that only God can do, and I believe that is happening again. I don’t believe that God sent the virus, but I believe God is taking this opportunity to shake the Church from its complacency. Everything that we thought was secure has been turned upside down and isn’t going to be put back the right way up in the near future. But we have found new ways of doing things, new ways of worshipping which are enabling far more people to join in worship than was previously the case. People are being brought together whilst the world is forcing them apart. Let us continue to seek new ways of being Christians in whatever sort of world we might find ourselves and, through that, bring glory to God by what we do.

Let us pray
We pray for a fresh outpouring of your spirit in all areas of the church, till our lives and our church’s life are so changed for good that people notice and are drawn to seek you for themselves.We are your people: and you are our God
We pray for godly leaders and advisors all over the world that they may have the wisdom to lead us in this current crisis and that they may have courage to speak out against injustice and evil. We are your people: and you are our God .
We pray for those who are struggling with loneliness. We pray that we would reach out and touch them through our conversations and through our actions. May they receive encouragement by the things that we do. We are your people: and you are our God.
We pray for those who are sick. Those fighting COVID-19 and those struggling with other illnesses. May they know your presence, your healing touch, and your love.
We are your people: and you are our God.
We pray for the dying. Especially for those who cannot know the comfort of family at this time. We pray for the bereaved. Especially those who cannot mourn as they would have wanted.
We are your people: and you are our God.
We pray for those who are encountering God again in these difficult times and we pray for your church that we would have the wisdom to guide them as they discover you afresh. Help us to build your church in accordance with your wishes that it might be prepared to face the challenges of a new reality.
We are your people: and you are our God. Amen

On the third Sunday of the Month we would normally be holding Jammy Church from 4 p.m. As we are unable to physically get together we cannot do this in our normal way. However this month Jammy Church will still take place as the activities and songs will be shown on the Jammy Church facebook page. The presentation will start at 4 p.m. the page can be found at

Sorry you will have to provide your own food. We hope we will be joined by our regular attendees and some new ones as well. We are all getting used to using different technologies at this time so please bear with us if there are any glitches.

On the Sunday nearest to 24th May (in 2020 the 24th is a Sunday) many Methodists remember Aldersgate Sunday when John Wesley had an experience which encouraged him to change his life in many ways. As he says in his journal for 24th May 1738.

“In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate street, where one was reading the preface to Luther’s epistle to the Romans. At about a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine.”

If you were wondering what Luther’s epistle to the Romans was Luther was a 16th century German protestant reformer. Aldersgate is in the city of London by St Pauls and the museum of London. I visited the site a few years ago and it is now is a cement walkway between skyscrapers so not what John Wesley would have seen.

This service sheet for use at home has been prepared for us by Rev. Trish Davis. In the prayers when you come across this symbol (+) Please add whatever words you like according to your needs.

Call to Worship: (from Psalm 66:1-3)
‘Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name;make his praise glorious. Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds!’Prayer: Gracious God, we come before you, whether meeting alone or with others,
drawn by the power of your welcoming love.We come with our sorrows and joys.
We come with our expectations and apprehensions.We come with what we have done.
We come as who we are. In your love help us find peace and hope. Amen.

STF372Come down, O Love divine

Prayer of Thanksgiving:
You make yourself known to us, and you are present in our lives
even though we do not always recognise or acknowledge you.
For all that you are, we thank you, loving God.You do not leave us orphaned,
but embrace us with parental love that encourages and comforts us.
For all that you are, we thank you, loving God.You ensure that we are not alone
by filling us with your Spirit of truth, that inspires and empowers us.
For all that you are, we thank you, loving God. (+)
Thank you, Father, for your presence, your love and your encouragement.
Amen.

Prayer of Confession:
God of love, we are sorry that at times our love for you falters;
that we have wrong priorities; that we overlook your guidance. (+)
O God, forgive us. O God, renew us.
Loving Saviour, we are sorry that we disobey your commandments;
that we fail to love; that we walk by on the other side. (+) O God, forgive us. O God, renew us.Spirit of truth, we are sorry that we disregard your presence; that our thoughts and feelings are unrighteous; that we follow the world’s way. (+)
O God, forgive us. O God, renew us.May your presence abiding in us lead us in the right way, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

John 14:15-21 The Spirit beside us
15‘If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever – 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me any more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realise that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.’

Sermon:
We are way past Easter now and heading for Pentecost (well, in two week’s time) so it is very timely that we get to think about the Holy Spirit today in our reading from John’s Gospel. I wonder what comes into your mind when you think of the Holy Spirit? Is it excitement, or confusion, wonder or fear? Do you sigh or do you rejoice? You might like to pause for a moment and consider your response…
This passage, John 14:15-21, comes after the very well known passage where Jesus says: ‘My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?’ (John 14:2) And after the important verse in which Jesus states: ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ (John 14:6)
Jesus’ disciples seem rather uncertain about what Jesus is telling them and Jesus appears to be trying to explain to them why they are going to be OK without him physically present. We could see this as Jesus trying to introduce them to the concept of the Trinity. He wants to let them know that they will never be alone, even without him there as a man. Jesus says: ‘I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever – 17 the Spirit of truth.’
Were they any the wiser do you think?! I can almost picture their blank faces… Jesus tries again; he says more about what he means by the ‘Spirit of truth’: ‘The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.’ (John 14:17 some translations say: ‘and is in you.’)
I do feel for those disciples. I wonder if they rolled their eyes at one another; nudged one another, or sighed…? Jesus starts speaking about leaving them as ‘orphans’, or to be more precise – not leaving them as orphans. Given that they haven’t really grasped that he is leaving them anyway, I’m not sure how much this helps.
Jesus carries on: ‘19 Before long, the world will not see me any more, but you will see me.’ Again, Jesus is mentioning that he is not going to remain with them; they will have heard this a few times now – maybe it does begin to sink in?
Then he says something else that must have been very strange to hear: ‘Because I live, you also will live.’ (John 14:19) Jesus is implying that he is leaving them… but I doubt they really think he is speaking of death. We have such a different perspective on things because we know what happened (and yet even so we can struggle a bit with the teaching about the Holy Spirit).
Jesus tells them that they will get it! ‘20 On that day you will realise that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.’ I guess Jesus is looking ahead to Pentecost when the arrival of the Holy Spirit was full-on; unforgettable; transforming them ready for their missionary roles.
In case they are doubtful about what they should be doing in the light of the information he is revealing to them, Jesus says: ‘21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.’
What does this mean for us today? Like the disciples, we are living in a time of uncertainty. We may often find we do not understand what the Government’s message is exactly. Some of us may feel that we are being left to sort ourselves out; we may feel insecure about going out or not going out.
The disciples had Jesus living amongst them, in the flesh, for a time. They learned a lot from him about God, and their minds were being prepared for the arrival of the Holy Spirit. We may feel that, without our physical connection with church, we are losing out. Yet, all the months and years that we have connected with church in some form or other, mean we have been prepared for this strange time. If we look deep into ourselves, we will discover afresh that we know God – as Father, as Son and as Holy Spirit. Nothing we have learned through our Christian lives is wasted. We can draw on it now during our absence from our church buildings and groups.
We do know God’s commands; we do know God’s love… it’s all in there, but we might need to reactivate it, and that is definitely where the Holy Spirit comes in – remember Jesus says: ‘I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever – 17 the Spirit of truth.’
Hallelujah! What a gift we have! Maybe this time now is like the period of time when the disciples began to know about the Holy Spirit, through Jesus’ teaching, but hadn’t yet fully received it (as they were to do at Pentecost – see Acts chapter 2). As the church right now, we are slightly hidden away, possibly a little confused about what God is saying to us at this time, but it is my hope and prayer that we will come through it and be revitalised as ‘church’ when we emerge into whatever comes next for churches. Let’s learn what we can about listening to God’s word to us; receiving God’s teaching. And let’s ask to be filled afresh with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, so that we can have as big an impact on our communities as the disciples did after they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. How wonderful that would be!

STF391‘O breath of life come sweeping through us’Prayers:
(You might like to pray using the hymn you have just read or sung. Spend a few moments asking God what you need to hear at this time…)
Holy God, there are many prayers on our lips arising from the present situation:
We ask that you help scientists develop treatments and vaccines for Covid-19.
We ask that the Government and their advisors can plan and set out a safe and sensible way for coming out of lockdown.We pray for all who are in work during this crisis, whether on the frontline or in some other role – that they will be protected and supported.We ask for resources to be made available to those not in work; those whose businesses are failing; and those who are very fearful about their economic future.
We ask for help for vulnerable, grieving and hurting people, and we pray that we will be prompted by your Spirit to offer help when we can. (+) Gracious God we lay our prayers before you, uplifted by the knowledge that each prayer is valuable and meaningful. Nourish us this day, and throughout the coming week, and give us a sense of your Holy Spirit drawing us together as Church as we speak out the words of the Lord’s Prayer.
“Our Father… Amen.”

STF382‘Holy Spirit, come, confirm us’

Blessing: I am your child, O God: Help me always to show love, and fill me with the Spirit of truth. Amen.
‘May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth and your saving power among all nations.’ (Psalm 67:1-2)

Thank you to the person from the congregation that provided these suggestions for a Prayer walk during Coronavirus days.

Here are a few suggestions to help you pray as you pass various spots on your permitted exercise walk around Hedge End (or in your own local community).

Location

Pray for

Churches

people who would normally worship there, that they might feel close to God at home

Houses and flats

people who live inside, especially those who feel lonely, isolated, sick, fearful; that they might be comforted; also those who help and support them. People who are now working from home, that they might adapt easily and successfully to their new way of working

Banks

those who work there, making finance available to those who need it, that they stay safe

Pharmacies

those who work there, providing necessary medicines and helping to keep people well, that they may stay well themselves

Food shops

those who work there, those who supply the shops and all those who keep supplies moving, that they may stay safe and feel appreciated

Medical Centre

those who work there, providing health care to those in distress, feeling ill or in pain, that they stay well and know how much they are helping the community in providing an essential service

Shops that are closed:
hairdressers, cafes etc

the people who would be working there, who run businesses there and who may be worried about the future and struggling financially, that they receive the help they need

Schools, nurseries, etc

the children who would normally be there and are missing their friends, that they may all keep cheerful and grow; the parents coping with home schooling and child minding, that they enjoy being with their children; the teachers and other professionals who are providing materials for home schooling, that they find satisfaction in what they are doing

Traffic lights

All those who are working behind the scenes to keep our community safe and functioning: council workers, utility companies, road, traffic, TV, mobile networks, internet suppliers, etc, that they stay safe and feel appreciated

You are sure to pass some of the above on your exercise walk and you may notice others such as the library, post office, the parks and gardens, council offices and police station….

The stewards invite all the church family to join together this year in Thy Kingdom Come . We may not be gathering together at the moment but we can still join in the global wave of prayer as a church family. Below are several ways to participate throughout the 11 days of prayer – please feel free to join in with any (or all!) of these opportunities:

For more details of what my kingdom come is and links to the my kingdom come website please see the previous blog on this site at

Daily prayer: it would be good if at times we could pray simultaneously to increase our sense of togetherness at this time. This may not be possible for everyone and you may find there are other times more suitable for you, but we suggest 8.30am and 7.30pm, for ten minutes. The morning prayer will be on Zoom and will be based on the Jesus loves all prayer journal.

Day of prayer: Friday 29th May. We invite you to make this a really special day of prayer by finding extra prayer time throughout the day. You could, for example, join in morning prayer as usual but you might also pause for prayer at other times, perhaps linking with a regular activity such as making a cup of tea or washing your hands.

In the evening there will be a prayer meeting on Zoom at 7.30pm, lasting about 40 minutes. This will start with a short introduction followed by a time of open prayer, during which both silent and spoken prayer is welcome. If you are not joining the Zoom meeting perhaps you could still pray during this time, wherever you are.

Prayer station. It would have been brilliant to have a Thy Kingdom Come prayer station at church but in the current circumstances why not create a prayer station or space at home? You might use a candle, flowers, a cross and pictures of the people you are praying for as a focus for your prayers.

Prayer walk. Could you use your permitted exercise walk as time to pray? If you are self-isolating why not try an imaginary walk? Prayer walking is a great way to pray for our neighbourhoods at any time. Please remember to comply with coronavirus restrictions.

Closing celebration, Sunday 31st May, 4.00pm – 4.40pm on Zoom.

If you would like to join in with the zoom parts of this imitative please use the contact form to the left and we will endeavour to send you the details.

You could also Make and wear a symbolic knotted cord during Thy Kingdom Come. Tie five knots in a length of string, cord or wool to represent the five people you commit to pray for. Tie it on your wrist or place it somewhere you will see it regularly as a reminder to pray.

Keep a prayer journal. The Methodist resource Jesus loves all has space to record your reflections during Thy Kingdom Come but you could make your own journal for this time.

Use the Thy Kingdom Come mobile app

The breath prayer: Thy Kingdom Come could be a time to try different forms of prayer, such as this breath prayer. Pray the first part of each line breathing in and the second part slowly breathing out.
Short/arrow prayers: prayers needn’t be long or planned, after all, Jesus advised us not to go ‘babbling’ on in prayer! (Matthew 6:7) During Thy Kingdom Come why not practice praying short, arrow prayers as you feel prompted? You could think of a simple prayer prepared to use whenever you think of someone, eg. Lord, I pray that you will lead ……… to you. Amen.

Imaginative prayer: imagine inviting Jesus and one of the people you are praying for to join you for a cuppa. You might want to explain why you want them to meet one another. How do they get on together? What do they talk about? You could imagine telling them what you hope to come from this meeting. When you have said goodbye to them remember that you can meet again with Jesus in prayer at any time.

Some poems, based loosely on well-known songs, to cheer you up! Take them with a good dose of humour and a pinch of salt! Except for the last one, which is my serious tribute to all health workers and others who are helping us through this pandemic. Enjoy! Geoff Scarlett.

Just picture steak and champagne –
I’m just in the mood
For food, Wonderful food,
Marvellous food, glorious food!

HOW MANY TIMES SHALL I WALK AROUND
In my English country garden?
I’ll tell you now of some things I’ve found
To alleviate the boredom:
Mowed the lawn ten times a day!
I’m now selling bags of hay!
I throw the wrong flowers away
From my English country garden!

How glad I am that I can enjoy
Such a lovely country garden!
I take back everything I’ve just said –
It’s the lockdown my heart hardened.
Now I do appreciate
Fresh air, every breath I take.
Daffs, tulips, heathers, roses make
Such a lovely country garden!

I’VE GOT TO BE THERE IN THE MORNING
Seated before the TV screen.
Churches are showing
Worship — I’m going
To join in, ‘cos it’s all for free!

If I’m sleeping,
Wake me up, do!
If I am busy,
Make me come and view!

For I’ve lots of hi-tech stuff to help me
Sing hymns and pray and hear God’s word,
Learn from the sermon
( Please a short sermon! ),
So get me to the screen,
Get me to the screen,
Be sure to watch with millions —
Praise the Lord!

TO FIGHT THE INVISIBLE FOE,
That strikes with a deadly intent,
To strive to save lives every moment,
At the end of the day feeling spent:
This is your work, your calling, your life,
The choice that you have freely, happily made
And whatever the part you are playing,
Thanks for wonderful gifts you’ve displayed!

And you dream of a beautiful world,
Full of life, without suffering and pain,
And at last you’ll assuredly triumph,
Evil vanquished, as love comes to reign!
We’ll look forward to living again!

Church Closed

The Church Building is now closed for all activities until further notice.

We send our thoughts and prayers to everyone in the World at this difficult time. We trust in God’s larger plans for his people and the world, even though we have our own fears and impatience, and know that the door to his relationship with us never closes.

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